As reported on July 28, 2019, more people are dying of Hepatitis B and C, but the awareness about the disease is very low, compared to HIV, malaria, dengue combined. And so, the Union Health Minister pledged on the eve of World Hepatitis Day to join a campaign by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) to create awareness.
Hepatitis B
Caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis B is a potentially life-threatening viral infection that attacks the liver, causing both acute and chronic disease. Commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth or delivery or through contacts with blood, or other body fluids, it can be prevented by vaccines that are safe, available, and effective. All infants should be vaccinated as soon as possible after birth, preferably within 24 hours. However, it can be taken at any age.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C spreads through unsafe injection practices, transfusion of unscreened blood, and sexual practices that lead to exposure of blood of an infected person. It can also cause both acute and chronic infection. A major cause of liver cancer, there is currently no effective vaccine against Hepatitis C. However, antiviral medicines can cure 95 per cent of patients and can reduce the risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. Diagnosis and treatment is low.
National and International Scenario
As per WHO estimates 2015, 257 million people suffered from Hepatitis B infection and 71 million people have chronic Hepatitis C virus infection across the world, who would eventually develop cirrhosis or liver cancer.
As per government data, India harbours 10–15 per cent of the entire pool of Hepatitis B carriers in the world. Of these, about 15–25 per cent may suffer from cirrhosis, scarring of the liver, and liver cancer, leading to pre-mature death.
As per WHO data 2016, approximately 3,99,000 people died from Hepatitis C, liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) being the primary reason. Similarly, an estimated 8,87,000 people died in 2015 from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, due to Hepatitis B. WHO has called on the countries to take advantage of recent reductions in the costs of diagnosing and treating viral hepatitis as 80 per cent of the people suffering from hepatitis virus cannot get the required services to treat the disease.
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